Universal metal stud clip

ABSTRACT

A universal metal stud clip is a support mechanism for securing one or more electrical boxes or other construction components to metal construction elements such as metal studs. The opposed spring arm design permits the clip to be oriented in any useful way and frictionally secured to metal studs of varying dimensions. Metal stud clips include one or more pair of resilient arms to frictionally engage metal studs. Using two or more pair of resilient arms provides a very stable attachment to the metal stud.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

The inventions described below relates to the field of electricalconstruction components and more specifically to clips for securingelectrical boxes to metal construction studs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Conventional wood frame construction techniques are often adapted tometal frame construction. The technique of nailing an electrical box toa wooden stud does not translate well to metal frame construction.

SUMMARY

A universal metal stud clip is a support mechanism for securing one ormore electrical boxes or other construction components to metalconstruction elements such as metal studs. The opposed spring arm designpermits the clip to be oriented in any useful way and frictionallysecured to metal studs of varying dimensions. Metal stud clips includeone or more pair of resilient arms to frictionally engage metal studs.Using two or more pair of resilient arms provides a very stableattachment to the metal stud.

A metal stud clip includes two parallel flanges that permit attachmentof one or more electrical boxes on each side of a single metal stud atthe same height, or a known offset. This simplifies subsequentconstruction tasks such as hanging sheetrock. Additionally multipleboxes on a single clip may permit separate circuits to be collocated andsecured to a single clip.

A clip for securing one or more electrical boxes to a metal studincludes a generally rectangular plate having two pair of opposed edges,two generally parallel flanges, each flange having a proximal edge and adistal edge, the proximal edges of the flanges joined to the plate, eachflange joined along one edge of a pair of the two pair of opposed edges,two or more resilient arms formed from each of the two generallyparallel flanges, each resilient arm of a flange having a proximal endand a distal end and forming an opposing pair of resilient arms with aresilient arm from the generally parallel flange, the proximal end ofeach resilient arm hingably formed from the flange near the distal edgeof each of the two generally parallel flanges, with the distal end ofeach resilient arm inclined toward the plate, and one or more engagementarms formed from each of the two generally parallel flanges, theproximal end of each engagement arm hingably formed from each flangeadjacent its proximal edge, with the distal end of each resilient arminclined toward the generally parallel flange.

A universal metal stud clip includes a generally rectangular platehaving two pair of opposed edges, a first and a second generallyparallel flanges joined to the plate, each flange joined along one edgeof a pair of the two pair of opposed edges, the combination of the firstand a second flanges and the plate partially enclosing an engagementarea, two or more pair of resilient arms formed from a portion of eachof the first and a second flanges, each resilient arm having a proximalend and a distal end, the proximal end of each arm of a pair ofresilient arms forming a hinge within the flange near the distal edge ofeach of the two generally parallel flanges, with the distal end of eachresilient arm inclined toward the plate.

A universal metal stud clip may include a rectangular plate having twopair of opposed edges, a first and a second generally parallel flangesjoined to the plate, each flange joined along one edge of a pair of thetwo pair of opposed edges, the combination of the first and a secondflanges and the plate partially enclosing an engagement area and two ormore pairs of opposed arms for engaging a metal stud extending into anengagement area. Each flange may also include two or more channels and alocking arm for removably securing an electrical box to the universalmetal stud clip. A suitable electrical box may include a tabcorresponding to each channel on the metal stud clip and a slot forengaging the locking arm to secure the electrical box to the metal studclip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a universal metal stud clip.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the clip of FIG. 2 taken along lineA-A.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a universal metal stud clip securing anelectrical box to a metal stud.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a universal metal stud clip for removablyengaging an electrical box.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the clip of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the clip of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the clip of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an electrical box for removably engagingthe universal metal stud clip of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a universal metal stud clip for removablyengaging an electrical box.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the clip of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a back view of the clip of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the clip of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of an electrical box for removably engagingthe universal metal stud clip of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, metal stud clip 10 includes a generally rectangularplate 12 joining first flange 14 and second flange 16. First flange 14and second flange 16 each have a proximal and distal edge, 14P and 14D,16P and 16D respectively. First flange 14 and second flange 16 aregenerally perpendicular to plate 12 and the proximal edge of eachflange, 14P and 16P, joins plate 12 along corners 17 and 19 respectivelyforming a generally C-shaped channel and an engagement area 20 betweenthe first and second flanges 14 and 16. Plate 12, first flange 14 andsecond flange 16 also include at least one attachment hole such asattachment holes 22 or holes 23 for securing any suitable element suchas an electrical box to clip 10.

A portion of each flange is cut, stamped or otherwise separated to format least three pairs of arms for frictionally engaging a metal stud orother construction element. One or more pair of arms may be arranged inopposing pairs such as opposed arm pair 24A and 24B, and opposed armpair 26A and 26B. Opposed arm pairs are hinged within the flanges neardistal edges 14D and 16D of each flange. Engagement arms such asengagement arms 27A and 27B are also oriented within each flange inopposition, however, engagement arms are hinged near the proximal edgeof each flange, 14P and 16P respectively, with the engagement armsextending up and away from plate 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, distal ends 28 and 30 of each resilientarm such as resilient arms 24B and 26B are square cut perpendicular tothe primary axis of the arm such as axes 29 and 31 of resilient arms 24Band 26B respectively. The configuration of each arm end results in twogenerally parallel straight edges such as edges 33 and 35. Distal endsof resilient arms such as distal ends 28 and 30 may be straight asdistal end 28, of may be curved such as distal end 30, or any suitablecombination.

Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, plate 12 may include one or moreribs such as ribs 36. Ribs such as ribs 36 may be arranged parallel toeach other and perpendicular to the plate edges where the flanges arejoined.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a universal metal stud clip such as clip 10 mayengage any suitable metal building component such as metal stud 38. Eachresilient arm is compressed to its respective flange enabling metal stud38 to be frictionally engaged. One or more electrical boxes such aselectrical box 39 and or electrical box 40 may be secured as discussedabove, to clip 10 and thus also engaged to metal stud 38.

In FIGS. 6 through 9, metal stud clip 50 includes a generallyrectangular plate 52 joining first flange 54 and second flange 56. Firstflange 54 and second flange 56 each have a proximal and distal edge, 54Pand 54D, 56P and 56D respectively. First flange 54 and second flange 56are generally perpendicular to plate 52 and the proximal edge of eachflange, 54P and 56P, joins plate 52 along corners 57 and 59 respectivelyforming a generally C-shaped channel and an engagement area 60 betweenthe first and second flanges 54 and 56. Plate 52, first flange 54 andsecond flange 56 also include at least one attachment hole such asattachment holes 62 or holes 63 for securing any suitable element suchas an electrical box to clip 50. Alternatively, first flange 54 mayinclude two or more opposing channels such as first channel 64 andsecond channel 66 for engaging a suitable electrical box such aselectrical box 68 of FIG. 10.

A portion of each flange is cut, stamped or otherwise separated to format least two pairs of arms for frictionally engaging a metal stud orother construction element. One or more pair of arms may be arranged inopposing pairs such as opposed arm pair 69A and 69B, and opposed armpair 71A and 71B. Opposed arm pairs are hinged within the flanges neardistal edges 54D and 56D of each flange. For each flange that includeschannels for securing an electrical box, a locking arm such as lockingarm 72 is included, and the locking arm is hinged near the proximal edgeof each flange such as proximal edge 54P.

Referring now to FIG. 10, electrical box 68 includes two or more tabssuch as tabs 73A and 73B suitable for engaging channels 64 and 66 ofuniversal metal stud clip 50. As tabs 73A and 73B slide into channels 64and 66 resilient locking arm 72 engages locking slot 74. To disengageelectrical box 68 from universal metal stud clip 50, resilient lockingarm 72 is separated from locking slot 74 and electrical box 68 is slidrelative to universal metal stud clip 50 along engagement axis 75.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 through 14, in an alternate configuration,universal metal stud clip 80 includes engagement tabs 82 and 84 as wellas resilient locking arm 85. Electrical box 86 includes two or morechannels such as channels 87A and 87B suitable for engaging tabs 82 and84 of universal metal stud clip 50. As channels 87A and 87B slide intotabs 82 and 84 resilient locking arm 72 engages locking slot 88. Todisengage electrical box 68 from universal metal stud clip 50, resilientlocking arm 85 is separated from locking slot 88 and electrical box 86is slid relative to universal metal stud clip 80 along engagement axis89.

Thus, while the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods havebeen described in reference to the environment in which they weredeveloped, they are merely illustrative of the principles of theinventions. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of theappended claims.

1. A clip for securing one or more electrical boxes to a metal studcomprising: a generally rectangular plate having two pair of opposededges; two generally parallel flanges, each flange having a proximaledge and a distal edge, the proximal edges of the flanges joined to theplate, each flange joined along one edge of a pair of the two pair ofopposed edges; two or more resilient arms formed from each of the twogenerally parallel flanges, each resilient arm having a proximal end anda distal end and forming an opposing pair of resilient arms with aresilient arm from the other of the two generally parallel flanges, theproximal end of each resilient arm hingably formed from the flange nearthe distal edge of each of the two generally parallel flanges, with thedistal end of each resilient arm inclined toward the plate; and one ormore engagement arms formed from each of the two generally parallelflanges, the proximal end of each engagement arm hingably formed fromeach flange adjacent its proximal edge, with the distal end of eachresilient arm inclined toward the generally parallel flange.
 2. The clipof claim 1 wherein the generally rectangular plate further comprises:two generally parallel ribs formed into the plate and orientedperpendicular to the pair of edges joined to the proximal edges of thegenerally parallel flanges.
 3. The clip of claim 1 further comprising:one or more electrical boxes secured to the clip.
 4. The clip of claim 1further comprising: an electrical box secured to the plate.
 5. The clipof claim 1 further comprising: an electrical box secured to each of thetwo generally parallel flanges.